Authors | Flagpole Magazine | Athens, GA News, Music, Arts, Restaurants

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

Tell Us What You Loved About Athens Music in 2016

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

It's the middle of November. Leaves have changed colors, temperatures are falling, it's getting dark at like 5 p.m., and the election is finally over. Which means… we're approaching the end.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 15, 2016
Flagpole Premieres: Monsoon, 'Never Knows Best' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Athensmade, a local nonprofit that aims to "educate, support and promote homegrown brands, entrepreneurs and creative professionals" here in town, has partnered with production company LiveSyphon to create a pilot for a web series focused on the Athens music scene.

Today, we're happy to give you a first glimpse at the project, via a video of Monsoon performing its song "Never Knows Best," which was filmed recently at Flicker Theatre & Bar.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 11, 2016
Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday, Nov. 6

Blog: In the Loop

Photo Credit: Matteo Ianeselli/Wikimedia Commons

Remember to set your clocks back Saturday night.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 4, 2016
Win Tickets: Andrew W.K. Brings 'Power of Partying' Tour to 40 Watt

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Jonathan Thorpe

This week's cover story is on Andrew W.K., the party-obsessed posi-rocker who brings his "Power of Partying" speaking tour to the 40 Watt on Saturday, Nov. 5. Check it out right here, why don't you?

We've got two pairs of passes to give away to the show. To enter, tell us in the comments below why you and a guest deserve to go for free. We'll choose two winners Friday at 5 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 4, 2016
Flagpole Premieres: Nihilist Cheerleader, 'Fine' (Pity Party Session)

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Colin Murphy

Nihilist Cheerleader has had a pretty good year. The local punk band started 2016 with a bang, releasing the stellar Truth or Dare EP in January. Then, in June, the group won Upstart of the Year at the Flagpole Athens Music Awards. Its jam-packed AthFest show was one of that event's incontestable highlights.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 1, 2016
Flagpole Premieres: Seven Simons, 'Rhyme of Fallen Leaves'

Blog: Homedrone

The Athens-music explosion during the 1980s birthed hundreds of local bands, many of which have been rendered obscure by time. Until now, pop quartet Seven Simons was one such group. The band released two albums during its initial run—1988's Clockwork and 1991's Four Twenty-Four—that were indebted both to R.E.M.'s jangle-rock sound and also the era's moodier UK alt-rock scene.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 27, 2016
Is Jeff Mangum Dropping Hints About a New Neutral Milk Hotel Album?

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Will Westbrook

Could there be new Neutral Milk Hotel music on the way?

According to a Reddit commenter who purchased some of Jeff Mangum's recent drawings, maybe. The black-and-white artwork, titled "The Book Cipher Sings," appears to contain the phrase "double album" in various permutations.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 20, 2016
R.E.M. Adds Live Version of 'World Leader Pretend' to Anti-Trump Playlist

Blog: Homedrone

R.E.M. officially called it quits back in 2011, but the Athens band has infiltrated the music-news cycle sporadically since then. (Oh, hey: Mike Mills brings his new rock concerto to town Monday.) Most recently, the group released a profanity-laden statement in response to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump using one of its songs at one of his white-nationalist rallies on the campaign trail.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 19, 2016
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Oct. 17

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Mike Mills

By Gabe Vodicka | October 17, 2016
UGA Student Has Won 10 Straight on 'Jeopardy'

Blog: Culture Briefs

If you've been watching "Jeopardy," the classic answer-and-question quiz show, during the past couple weeks, you may have noticed a familiar face. Seth Wilson, a PhD student in UGA's theater department, won his ninth straight game Thursday to bring his total to $209,801 in winnings.

That's a lot of money.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 2, 2016
Athens Woman Plans to Open Cat Cafe

Blog: Grub Notes

A local woman has started a fundraiser in hopes of raising support for Ciao Meow Cafe, which she hopes will become Athens' first cat cafe.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 29, 2016
Updated With Memorial Plans: R.I.P. Athens Musician Curtis Vorda

Blog: Homedrone

The sad news rolled in on social media yesterday that Curtis Vorda, an Athens musician known for his free spirit, virtuosic singing talent and work with bands like psych supergroup Dark Meatand prog-tinged rockers American Mannequins, passed away after suffering a brain aneurysm.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 28, 2016
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Sept. 26

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 26, 2016
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Sept. 19

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Photo Credit: Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau

By Gabe Vodicka | September 20, 2016
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Sept. 12

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Chris Shupe as The Athens King

By Gabe Vodicka | September 12, 2016
Brandi Carlile Cancels Tour Dates, Including Georgia Theatre Show

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: David McClister

Americana mainstay Brandi Carlile has canceled a run of tour dates next month in order to undergo a surgical procedure to address endometriosis-related back and pelvis problems. Among the shows that got the axe was her Sept. 8 appearance at the Georgia Theatre.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 30, 2016
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Aug. 29

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Photo Credit: David Barnes/UGA Athletics

Kirby Smart

By Gabe Vodicka | August 30, 2016
Muuy Biien Announces New Album, Shares Video

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Jordan Reyes

Athens mainstay Muuy Biien has been relatively quiet on the local front over the past year or so, but now the group is gearing up to release its third full-length. Age of Uncertainty is out Oct. 28 via Los Angeles imprint Autumn Tone Records. The label was founded by Aquarium Drunkard mastermind (and former Athenian) Justin Gage.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 23, 2016
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Aug. 22

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

By Gabe Vodicka | August 22, 2016
Here's a Crowdfunding Campaign to Help Replace DJ Mahogany's Ruined Equipment

Blog: Homedrone

No local DJ is as well-known or well-loved as Mark Weathersby, aka DJ Mahogany, a medical professional by day who spends nearly every weekend spinning funk, soul, disco and more of his favorite sounds at various downtown spots (most frequently Go Bar and Little Kings). So it was a blow to the entire music community when some of Mahogany's equipment was recently ruined after a careless dancer spilled an unidentified beverage all over his setup.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 15, 2016